Reading Notes: Persian Tales Part A

When I began reading the Wolf and Goat, it was sort of difficult to imagine the characters talking. I thought back to the three little pigs, although there were four goats, and this made the setting more manageable. Once the mother goat takes one of the children to save the others, I was reminded of Hansel and Gretel so that is what house I imagined. I wasn't sure what the author meant when they said the sparrow never got home. I really like the beginning phrase "once upon a time there was a time when there was no one but god in the world". I think the author is trying to get across it was a very long time a go, but saying it this way makes the point. Reading Tales City of Nothing in the World was very interesting because you had no idea what was going to happen next. I felt it was really easy to imagine the setting as the story progressed. The mouse who requested a particular bed from a potential husband was my favorite tale. My jaw dropped when she asked what the husband will beat her with when they fight. The characters repeating lines at the end reminded me of  'there once was a woman who swallowed a fly'. The actions coming from these characters were a little more brutal though. The Boy who Became Bulbul had a very easy setting/plot to follow. I really enjoyed the song the bulbul would sing. The half-boy character was unique! This story contained my favorite ending. The setting for Muhammad Tirandaz Archer was a little harder to imagine for me. I thought the story was a bit repetitive of the bow and arrow. I have noticed a reoccurring theme in the stories, a task is given and if not completed a brutal punishment, like decapitation, is bestowed. This reminds me of the old law when a thief would lose their hand. I want to know what the Blacksmith said to the mouse in the final story of this unit.

 Image Information: A Wolf and Seven Sheep. Web Source: Wikimedia Commons
Bibliography: Persian Tales by David and Emily Lorimer, Web Source

Comment Wall

Hello All! Here is the website to my storybook project! I will be doing stories from Alice in Wonderland based off of other character's point-of-view! Hope you enjoy! :)

Alice's Friends

Reading Notes: Cupid and Psyche Part: B

I really liked the description in the introduction of part B when the author is describing the sea gull and the ocean. Venus's anger was a great way to start the second part of the story. I can tell this part of the tale will show Cupid's side to things. I was surprised when Ceres did not help Psyche hide. Psyche attempts to find an ally with multiple new characters which keeps the reader wondering if she will ever get help. Venus seemed very protagonist towards Psyche, but Cupid was such a nice, caring person. It is hard to believe that Psyche is his mother. Psyche did not set a goal to accomplish any of the tasks, and only succeeded with help of others. The wedding scene was a beautiful ending because of the other wedding parts of the story. I am glad I was able to hear more about the robbers and the girl, but I am curious as to what happened to Lucius and if the wedding went on without a hitch.

Bibliography: Cupid and Psyche from The Golden Ass by Apuleius. Web Source
Image Information: Cupid Finds Psyche Sleeping, Web Source: Wikipedia

Reading Notes: Cupid and Psyche Part A

The robbers want to cheer up the woman they stole and the older woman consoling her is very nice at first. Normally you would think the robbers would be hateful to their captive, but with this out of character start, I am wondering where the story will go. The transition from explaining the beautiful wedding scene to the fearful kidnapping was done really well. The old woman said that having a bad dream is actually a good sign, I wonder if this is true. The part about Psyche's wedding was very sad and the author showed this through the outfit choices and character's actions on the day of the ceremony. I enjoyed the introduction to Psyche and Cupid's story. The author used two characters from a mini story to kick off the main story. The sister's envy was a great plot twist in the tale. I enjoyed the ending of the first half of the unit, but I wonder what happened to the kidnapped girl from the beginning of the story.

Bibliography: Cupid and Psyche from The Golden Ass by Apuleius. Web Source.
Image Information: Cupid Leaving Psyche in Bed. Web Source: Wikimedia Commons

Feedback Strategies

While reading 'Five Reasons to Stop Saying Good Job!' I noticed that the article offered some really great points. Whenever you say 'bless you' when someone sneezes, are you doing it to hear a thank you or just because you wanted to say it? I think a lot of people say it because they are unconsciously looking for positive feedback. I agree that children would be more self-confident in their answers and more willing to step out of their comfort zone if they were given more precise feedback and less of it. The past two jobs I have had required a one-on-one meeting with a manager at various time intervals. During these meetings you would discuss your attendance and performance at work. It was so much easier for the managers to give positive feedback instead of discussing the aspects that could use some improvement. I think if management would share ways of improving the employees would be open to hearing negative feedback and it would create a more comfortable connection with the managers because they know they will be honest with them.

Articles:  Why Do So Many Managers Avoid Giving Praise?
 Five Reasons to Stop Saying Good Job
Image Information: Accepting Feedback, Web Source: The Speech Room News

Topic Research: The Others in Wonderland

For my semester project I want to write my version of Alice in Wonderland by telling the stories from the other character's point of view. One story I would love to include is the tea party scene. This is my favorite scene from Alice in Wonderland and it will be fun to tell what the Mad Hatter was thinking/feeling during the party. The second story I will work on is based on the Queen of Hearts perspective. She could have a reason for being so hateful towards others. The reason for her affiliation with hearts was never brought up. I would also like to tell back stories of characters. Telling a story about the flowers, before or after Alice arrived, would be fun. To prep for my project I want to read the Looking Glass or see if I can find different cultural versions of Alice in Wonderland for inspiration for my stories.

Web Source: Alice Looking Glass unit, source
Image Information: The Queen of Heart's Rose Garden, Web Source: Max Pixel

Week 3 Story: Cursed Friends

Author's Notes: I started my story with the author's second paragraph. The story consists of Narcissus being born very desirable and introduces Echo as only being able to reply with the end of what someone says to her. Juno cursed her with this because she helped nymphs escape from her. She saw Narcissus walking through the forest and was very interested in him, but he denied her and she spent the rest of her days hiding in the forest. I held onto the characteristics of Narcissus and Echo in my story, but I exaggerated them. My introduction is similar to the original story, but my plot and ending take a different path.




One humid summer night, a beautiful boy was born. A nymph told the boy's mother in order to live a long, happy life he needed to be humble by age twenty or that is when his life will change completely. This cursed boy's name was Narcissus.

While growing up he did not pay attention to other people fawning over him. He was kind to his family, but very conceited and almost arrogant. A girl named Echo lived next to him for seventeen years before Narcissus even spoke to her. Echo was also a bit conceited and very charming with her words. She could convince anyone to pay her a favor. The same nymph that cursed Narcissus was tricked into an unfair trade by Echo. As payback, Echo could only speak when spoken to and was only allowed to use three words per response. This situation could be reversed if she could create a true friendship with her condition. 

Echo attempted to speak with all of her old companions, but without the ability to carry an in-depth conversation she lost her charm. After a long day of trying to form connections, she gave up and went home. She saw Narcissus just upon arriving at her house.

"How are you?" asked Echo. "I have had a long day, but I can handle a little stress. I can handle anything." replied Narcissus. "Funny and Brave" said Echo as she thought of a plan to break the Nymph's curse. She knew Narcissus enjoyed talking about himself and having others listen to him talk about himself. Since she was no longer able to talk much anyways, maybe she could form a friendship with Narcissus.

As the next two years passed, Echo would go over and ask Narcissus how his day was and let him talk about himself for hours. She learned so much about him, but he knew nothing of her.

"Tomorrow is my twentieth birthday, I hope you come. There will be so many gifts and people are coming from everywhere to celebrate me." stated Narcissus. "Of course." replied Echo with an an eye roll. It is a shame that neither of them were aware of the other's curse because they could have helped stop the consequences of both.

The birthday party consisted of everyone dancing, singing and eating from a buffet of food. Narcissus sat in a huge chair, one fit for a king, overlooking his guests. He was sitting right by the gifts making sure everyone brought one. A woman comes in empty-handed and begins talking to other guests. Narcissus scowls at her for not bringing a present, and when she notices she approached him with a smirk.

"I see you are the complete opposite of humble. I know you talk about yourself far more than you speak of others." said the nymph.

Echo enters the party and sees Narcissus. She gives him his gift immediately and says "open". He unwraps the present to reveal a turtle, his favorite animal. He thanked her and returned to the nymph. "I'm sorry, but I think you should go. You are offending me at my own birthday party!" exclaimed Narcissus.

"I offered you twenty years to find humbleness. You are conceited and incapable of loving anyone else." the nymph replied to Narcissus. She turns to Echo and says, "You may have thought you found a true friendship with him, but a connection comes from both people. If he can tell me your favorite animal, I will break your curse. If he can't, you will receive the same punishment as him for wasting years with listening to his stories."

Echo looks at Narcissus with hope in her eyes. No words come from his mouth and he cannot look at her. The nymph laughs while lifting their curses, only to set a new one. Narcissus and Echo were to live the rest of their lives as turtles. The change would start at midnight, so after the party they both went into the forest to find a safe place by a river. They decided to help each other to make the transition easier. Finally, they showed signs of a true friendship, but it was too late to reverse any curse. 

Bibliography: 'Echo' from Ovid's Metamorphoses by John William Waterhouse. Web Source. 
Image Information: Two Turtles on a Fallen Tree, Web Source: Max Pixel